April 2025
Broadway is Bouncing Back
Dear Friends of Flipping The Script Productions,
Five years ago last month, Broadway went dark. Museums closed their doors, concert halls fell silent, and stadiums stood empty as the world grappled with the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, many - including myself - hoped this would only be a brief hiatus. Instead, it took a year and a half for live performances to fully return.
Now in 2025, it is still hard to imagine the gravity of the pandemic and all it has changed for us. The art community in particular saw huge setbacks and subsequent hardships for artists. Despite all this, it is heartening to see how Broadway has bounced back.
A New York Times article I read recently announced that Broadway attendance this season is at about 95% of its pre-pandemic levels. For the first time since 2018, all 41 Broadway theaters have hosted shows, with several productions consistently grossing more than $1 million a week. The raving successes of new shows like Oh, Mary! demonstrate the dynamic and progressive nature of a space like Broadway, while long-loved shows like Wicked remind us that things haven’t really changed all that much.
However, the recovery has been uneven. The rising costs of producing on Broadway mean that even strong ticket sales are not enough to guarantee profitability. In the same vein, rising ticket prices continue to impact the demographic of audience members.
While touring Broadway shows have seen solid sales, nonprofit theaters, and regional companies are still struggling. Without continued government support, many are facing budget deficits, programming fewer shows, and drawing smaller audiences.
I welcome dialogue on this topic and would love to hear what my network has observed about the state of the Broadway world. Do you think things will ever be the same? Or are they already?
I personally am inspired by Broadway's resilience but mindful of the challenges still facing the theater community. Our mission at Flipping The Script Productions remains to support emerging voices and innovative storytelling. Our ongoing project, Someone Close to You by Melissa Borgerding, reflects our commitment to bringing fresh perspectives to the stage during this crucial period of recovery.
We hope you will join us in celebrating the return of live theater while supporting the artists and institutions still finding their footing.
Warm regards,
Stephen
Founder, Flipping the Script Productions
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OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.flippingthescriptshows.com
CONTACT MR. ROURKE’S PRESS REPRESENTATIVE
Jay Michaels Global Communications, LLC
jay.michaels.theatricals@gmail.com
jaymichaelsarts.com
